Means for locking automobile tires



Jan. 15 1924. 1,481,032

K. SHAFFER MEANS FOR LOOKING AUTOMOBILE TIRES Filed July 1 1.922

Patented Jan. 15, 1924.

UNITED STATES I 1,481,032 PATENT orrlca.

KENT SHAFFER, or DENVER, conommo.

MEANS FOR LOGKING AUTOMOBILE TIRES.

Application filed July 1,

To ail whom it may concern:

Be' it known that I, KENT SHAFFER, a citi-' make and use the same, reference being had to .theacc'om anying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon? which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to means for looking the spare automobile tire in place on the machine.

It is essential, in safeguarded against unpleasant and annoying delays due to tire trouble, that one or more spare tires be carried, and this custom is now almost universal. It has been found from experience that spare tires which are not securely locked in place are frequently stolen. In order to carry sparetires with any degree of assurance that they will be there when needed, it is essential that they shall be locked to the car in such a manner that an unauthorized them only with great dlfiiculty, if at all.

It is the object of this invention to provide a simple and effective means for locking a spare tire to the car, and consists briefly in inserting the valve stem through an opening in a bracket that is non-removably connected to the. car body, and then applying a nut to the stem and locking the nut against rotation, whereby the tire becomes locked to the bracket'by means of the stem.

In order to more clearlyvdescribe my invention, I shall have reference to the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 shows the rear of an automobile with the spare tire held in place thereon;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken on line 22, Fig. 1; a

Fig. 3 is a plan view of one of my lockin members; i

ig. 4 is a side elevation thereof;

Fi 5 is a plan view of the other locking mem er; and

Fig. 6 is a side elevation therof.

The same reference numerals will be used to designate the sameparts throughout the several views.

order to be properly erson can remove 1922. Serial No. 572,342,

In the drawings, numeral 1 represents the body ofan automobile, to the rear end of which is secured a tire-holding device consisting of a rim 2, which is non-remov- 4 ably secured to the body bymeans of suitable brackets 3. Rim 2 has an inner upstanding flange 4 which limits the inward movement of the demountable rim 5 which carries the tire casing 6. Rim 2'is provided at the top, or at any suitable place, with a hole 7 for the reception-of the valve stem 8.

The .tirecasing 6 and inner tube!) are assembled in the usual manner on the demouritable rim 5, after which they are inflated to the desired pressure. The spare tire is then mounted on the carrier with the valve stem extending through .the opening 7, after which clamp 10 is screwed into place for the purpose of holding the tire against removal, all in the manner common and well understood. The tire carrier described briefly aboveis one of the well known carriers in general use and forms no part of my inven tion, but has merely been described and shown in order to describe my invention which cooperatesv with it.

The usual method of locking a spare tire to a carrier of the above described type is to pass a cable or chain around the tire and carrier and fasten the ends with a padlock. This method is unsightly and unreliable, sincea cable orchain may be instantly severed, by means of a suitable cutting tool.

It is apparent that in order to remove the spare tire from the carrier, it will be necessary to withdraw the'valve stem 8 from the hole 7 in the rim 2. If means is provided for preventing the stem 8 from being withdrawn, it is evident that the tire cannot be removed without first breaking the valve stem. My invention is directed to means for preventing this withdrawal.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 2 to 6, inclusive, numeral 11 indicates a clamping member provided at one end with a hole 12 through which the valve stem 8 extends, and at the otherend with a hole 13 adapted to receive the locking bail 14 of a padlock 15.: Member 11 is provided transversely thereof with 3, lug 16 which engages the edge of rim 2 in the manner shown in Fig.- 2, and prevents the part 11 from being rotated. A member 17, provided near one end with a threaded opening 18 adapted to cooperate with the threads on the valve stem, serves as a nut and spare tire cannot be removed without breakthe stems are very substantially made.

clamps the member 11 in place against the rim 2, in the manner shown in Fig. 2. Member 17 is also provided near its outer end with a hole 19 that registers with hole 13 and is adapted to receive the bail 14.

The operation of my lock is as follows: When the tire has been put in place on the holder or bracket, member 11 is slip (1 onto the valve stem 8 after which mem er 17 is screwed into place until art 11 is clamped a ainst the rim 2, in t e manner shown in ig. 2. The padlock 15 is then applied and prevents relative rotation of arts 11 and 17, while in 16 prevents memlier 11 from rotating. t is apparent that when my locking devices have been applied to the valve stem in the manner shown, the

ing the valve stem, which is very difiicult ias t is almostv impossible to cut the stem with a hack saw or with any known cutting tool, as it must be cut between rim 2 and nut 17, which part is'well protected.

Fronr the above it will appear that I have invented a simple andeffective means for locking a spare tire securely in place, that can be very cheaply made and sold and which can be quickly applied and removed.

Having now descrlbed my invention, what Iclaim as new is- 1. A device'for locking a spare tire to an automobile, comprising a rim non-removably secured to the automobile, said rim having a hole therein adapted to receive a valve stem, a tire assembly, comprising a rim, an outer casing, an inner tube and a valve stem, mounted on said first mentioned rim in such a manner that the valve stem extends through the hole therein, a member provided with an opening for the reception of the valve stem, a lug on said member for engaging the mm, a nut for holding said member in place, and means for lockingisaid nut and member against relative rotation.

2. A device for locking a spare tire to an automobile. comprising a rim non-removably secured to the automobile, said rim having a hole therein adapted to receive a valve stem, a tire mounted on said rim in such a manner that the valve stem projects comprising a member having an opening 4 near one end for the reception of a valve stem, an opening near the other end for the reception of a locking member, said memher also having a projection intermediate said openings, said projection being adapted to engage the sides of the holder, an elongated nut having a threaded opening adapted to cooperate with the threaded valve stem and another opening adapted to register with the corresponding opening in the first mentioned member and to receive the look ing member whereby the two members are locked against relative rotation.

In testimony whereof I afix m signature.

KENT S AFFER. 

